hiatus

play

noun hi·a·tus \ hī-ˈā-təs \

Definition of hiatus

1 a :a break in or as if in a material object :gap

the weedy hiatus between the town and the railroad
—Willa Cather

the hiatus between the theory and the practice of the party
—J. G. Colton

b biology :a gap or passage in an anatomical part or organ

2 a :an interruption in time or continuity :break; especially :a period when something (such as a program or activity) is suspended or interrupted

after a 5-year hiatus from writing

a summer hiatus

b :the occurrence of two vowel sounds without pause or intervening consonantal sound

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Examples of hiatus in a Sentence

The band is making an album again after a five-year hiatus.
steam was rising from an hiatus in the ground

Recent Examples of hiatus from the Web

UAB's return after a two-year hiatus is a national story going into this fall, but players get the sense that their opponents are tired of hearing about it.

— kevin scarbinsky, AL.com, "From UAB to Oregon and back, John Neal makes a return of his own," 29 Aug. 2017
When the conference title game resumes this season after a six-year hiatus, the Red River rivals could be facing each other for the second time that season.

— kansascity, "Big 12 blitz: Oklahoma would have to face rematch for another title," 26 Aug. 2017
The 10-episode season premiered this month after a five-year hiatus.

— tracy swartz, chicagotribune.com, "New 'Man v. Food' host talks tackling Timothy O'Toole's burger challenge," 25 Aug. 2017
After a brief hiatus starting on Sept. 1, the chef Amanda Cohen will switch her restaurant’s menu from à la carte to tasting on Sept. 5.

— florence fabricant, New York Times, "Martina, Danny Meyer’s Latest Pizza Restaurant, Opens in the East Village," 22 Aug. 2017
The opening marks Vongerichten's return to London after a 15-year hiatus and the restaurant was already bustling just a few days in, with chef Nobu Matsuhisa of Nobu fame ensconced in a corner booth.

— emily selter, Town & Country, "Jean-Georges Vongerichten Dishes on Social Media, Donald Trump, and his Favorite Foods," 1 Aug. 2017
Fergie — who is currently on hiatus from the Peas to focus on her solo career — is not featured in the novel, whose story-line pre-dates her joining the group.

— george varga, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Black Eyed Peas to celebrate new graphic novel at Comic-Con," 17 July 2017
One of the reasons York chose to introduce her new identity to the public now has to do with her return to the racing world, after a nearly two-decade hiatus.

— anthea levi, Health.com, "Tour de France Champion Tells Fans She’s Transgender," 10 July 2017
Azarenka has played only five matches since returning to the tour after a hiatus to have her first baby.

— howard fendrich, The Seattle Times, "At 37, Venus Williams tops 1 teen at Wimbledon, faces a 2nd," 7 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hiatus.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Hiatus comes from "hiare," a Latin verb meaning "to gape" or "to yawn," and first appeared in English in the middle of the 16th century. Originally, the word referred to a gap or opening in something, such as a cave opening in a cliff. In the 18th century, Laurence Sterne used the word humorously in his novel Tristram Shandy, writing of "the hiatus in Phutatorius's breeches." These days, "hiatus" is usually used in a temporal sense to refer to a pause or interruption (as in a song), or a period during which an activity is temporarily suspended (such as a hiatus from teaching).

Origin and Etymology of hiatus

Latin, from hiare to yawn — more at yawn

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1563

See Words from the same year

hiatus Synonyms

Synonyms

breach, break, discontinuity, gulf, gap, hole, interstice, interval, opening, rent, rift, separation, void

Antonyms

continuation, continuity

Related Words

chink, cleft, crack, cranny, crevice, fissure; notch, slit, slot, split; interspace, pore; abyss, aperture, cavity, chasm, gape, orifice; fracture, rupture, severance, sundering

Near Antonyms

completeness, fullness

HIATUS Defined for English Language Learners

hiatus

play

noun

Definition of hiatus for English Language Learners

: a period of time when something (such as an activity or program) is stopped

Medical Dictionary

hiatus

play

noun hi·a·tus \ hī-ˈāt-əs \

medical Definition of hiatus

:a gap or passage through an anatomical part or organ; especially :an opening through which another part or organ passes (such as the opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus and vagus nerves pass)